Police officer injured in crash at Minnetonka intersection

A Minnetonka squad car that stopped at a well-traveled intersection was hit by another car over the weekend, sending the officer to the hospital, authorities said Monday.

The wreck occurred about 1:15 p.m. Sunday at Hwy. 7 and Williston Road, according to a statement from city officials.

The officer, 35-year-old Armando Sanchez, was taken to a hospital with noncritical injuries, said city spokeswoman Kari Spreeman. The other driver, 27-year-old Travis Jorgensen, of Minnetonka, was not hurt.

Sanchez, who joined the force in 2012, was in his fully marked squad car and not on a call, Spreeman added.

According to the State Patrol, which is leading the investigation into the crash:

Sanchez was stopped in the left lane, waiting to turn from eastbound Hwy. 7 to northbound Williston Road. Jorgensen, traveling south on Williston, struck the front of the squad car.

Jorgensen “stated he fell asleep,” said patrol Lt. Tiffani Nielson. He was cited for careless driving and failure to have insurance, Nielson said.